SOUTHPORT manager Liam Watson was left frustrated his side let slip the lead against 10 man Barrow.

The Blue Square Bet Premier strugglers were handed the numerical advantage on Saturday afternoon when the Bluebirds' Robin Hulbert hacked down Matty McGinn and was shown a straight red card.

Port appeared to have fully seized the chance when substiute Matty McNeil headed home John Paul Kissock's centre to make it 1-0 in the 81st minute.

However defender Rob Marsh-Evans felled Paul Rutherford in the area with six minutes remaining allowing Simon Spender to slot home the equaliser from the spot.

The draw leaves the Yellows still second bottom of the division and three points from safety.

"We put ourselves in a position where the game is won and we just needed to be sensible for the final 10 minutes," said Watson.

"But we ended up lacking a bit of discipline. Our lads are saying the player who got fouled is offside but there can be no complaints about the decision for the actual penalty. It is massively disappointing to give it away.

"However if someone offered me a point before the game I probably would have taken it. We've not had a point in a while and must look to build on it today against Gateshead."

The game was overshadowed by the nature of the injury sustained to McGinn, who was stretchered off the field following Hulbert's challenge.

However, early fears of a broken leg seem to have been allayed, though the midfielder is certain to miss this afternoon's visit of Gateshead at Haig Avenue.